In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

mm/memory_hotplug: fix incorrect altmap passing in error path

In create_altmaps_and_memory_blocks(), when arch_add_memory() succeeds
with memmap_on_memory enabled, the vmemmap pages are allocated from
params.altmap. If create_memory_block_devices() subsequently fails, the
error path calls arch_remove_memory() with a NULL altmap instead of
params.altmap.

This is a bug that could lead to memory corruption. Since altmap is NULL,
vmemmap_free() falls back to freeing the vmemmap pages into the system
buddy allocator via free_pages() instead of the altmap.
arch_remove_memory() then immediately destroys the physical linear mapping
for this memory. This injects unowned pages into the buddy allocator,
causing machine checks or memory corruption if the system later attempts
to allocate and use those freed pages.

Fix this by passing params.altmap to arch_remove_memory() in the error
path.

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Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/memory_hotplug: fix incorrect altmap passing in error path In create_altmaps_and_memory_blocks(), when arch_add_memory() succeeds with memmap_on_memory enabled, the vmemmap pages are allocated from params.altmap. If create_memory_block_devices() subsequently fails, the error path calls arch_remove_memory() with a NULL altmap instead of params.altmap. This is a bug that could lead to memory corruption. Since altmap is NULL, vmemmap_free() falls back to freeing the vmemmap pages into the system buddy allocator via free_pages() instead of the altmap. arch_remove_memory() then immediately destroys the physical linear mapping for this memory. This injects unowned pages into the buddy allocator, causing machine checks or memory corruption if the system later attempts to allocate and use those freed pages. Fix this by passing params.altmap to arch_remove_memory() in the error path.
Title mm/memory_hotplug: fix incorrect altmap passing in error path
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-15T05:54:07.077Z

Reserved: 2026-08-09T03:40:39.912Z

Link: CVE-2026-72212

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-15T06:21:39.913

Modified: 2026-08-15T06:21:39.913

Link: CVE-2026-72212

cve-icon Redhat

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cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

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